All About The Size: Happy Message and Movement

What is the Size: Happy movement & message?

❤︎ We embrace, appreciate & adore our body during every shape & size of our life’s journey.

 

❤︎ We don’t hinge our happiness on what the scale says, what our bra size is or what our jean size is this month. Our amount of happiness is not dependent upon numbers or sizes. Our jean and breast size do not define us whatsoever.

 

❤︎ We do not live up to society’s standards, or allow society to tell us what’s beautiful, in or trendy. We live up to our own standards and we define what beauty means to us.

 

❤︎ We do not wait until we have “the thing” or weigh “X amount” to be happy. We live in happiness now, making the most of the present moment, while continuing to work towards our goals and big dreams.

 

❤︎ We believe that every woman is beautiful in her own unique light. We are the uplifters, encouragers and collaborators who positively impact the lives of others and those who fan our flames.

 

❤︎ We take full responsibility for our health and our happiness. If we want something we’ve never had or if we want to change something about our present situation, we do something about it. We are go-getters and action-takers!

 

This is what we call in, embody and stand for. Join us! 

 

Show your support for the Size: Happy movement and become fearlessly apart of this growing community.

 

Get your Size: Happy tank top here, share a photo of you wearing it on social media and tag Christina using the hashtag #MySizeHappy 

 

here’s to health, self-love and high vibes,
Christian Roulund-Dennis
Leader of Size: Happy

 

The Best Essential Oils To Heal Mind and Body

Incorporating essentials oils into your day can be a great way to help boost your mood, improve your energy, relax and naturally cleanse your body.

When deciding on which company or brand to chose, you’ll want to make sure that it’s organic, 100% pure, therapeutic grade essential oil. 

There are so many knockoffs on shelves these days, like at Walmart or your local drug store, that you’ve really got to be careful or you could potentially just add more toxins into your body.

There are a few different ways to use essential oils:

  • diffuse them in a diffuser so that the tiny particles get inhaled
  • personal care, such as in baths and in cosmetics
  • in a roller bottle for topical use
  • internally/orally

Now with the last two, it’s very important to do extensive research to make sure that a particular essential oil doesn’t require a carrier oil and that the oil is safe to ingest.

If you find a non-toxic candle with any of the scents or oils infused in them, that’s one of my favorite ways as well. Not only are the flickering of candles a relaxing sight, their fragrances can be too.

This article isn’t going to be “A Guide To Safely Using Essential Oils“, so please, before using any essential oil that I recommend check to see:

  1. What are the health benefits of _______ essential oil?
  2. Are there any side effects with ________ essential oil?
  3. What is ________ essential oil used for?
  4. Will ________ essential oil interact or interfere with my medication?
  5. Can I apply/ingest _______ essential oil while I’m pregnant?

Here is Dr Axe Essential Oils Beginners Guide where you’ll find a lot of helpful information on how to apply them safely, carrier oils and the history of essential oils.

My Favorite Essential Oils To Help The Mind and Body Heal, Energize, Relax and more!

Energy and Fatigue:

  • Jasmine
  • Peppermint
  • Pine

Relaxation:

  • Bergamot
  • Frankincense
  • Lavender
  • Neroli
  • Orange
  • Rose
  • Vetiver

Depression:

  • Geranium
  • Jasmine
  • Pine
  • Patchouli
  • Roman Chamomile
  • Sandalwood
  • Ylang Ylang

Anxiety:

  • Copaiba
  • Jasmine
  • Neroli
  • Orange
  • Roman Chamomile
  • Vetiver

Mental Clarity:

  • Bergamot
  • Frankincense
  • Rosemary
  • Ylang Ylang

Insomnia:

  • Helichrysum
  • Jasmine
  • Juniper Berry
  • Lavender
  • Roman Chamomile
  • Spikenard

Cleansing the Body:

  • Eucalyptus
  • Grapefruit
  • Lemon
  • Palo Santo

Immune Support/Antioxidant:

  • Clove
  • Geranium
  • Helichrysum
  • Hyssop
  • Jasmine
  • Juniper Berry
  • Lemon
  • Oregano
  • Palo Santo
  • Spikenard
  • Tea tree
  • Vetiver

Stimulate the Lymphatic System and Circulation:

  • Frankincense
  • Grapefruit
  • Lemon
  • Thyme

Skin:

  • Frankincense
  • Geranium
  • Myrrh
  • Orange
  • Rose
  • Tea Tree

Hair Growth/Thickness:

  • Rosemary
  • Lavender
  • Clove
  • Tea tree
  • Spikenard

Inflammation:

  • Copaiba
  • Frankincense
  • Ginger
  • Myrrh
  • Orange
  • Pine
  • Palo Santo
  • Turmeric

Digestion:

  • Ginger
  • Hyssop
  • Marjoram
  • Peppermint
  • Roman Chamomile
  • Wintergreen

Arthritis/Joint Pain:

  • Copaiba
  • Ginger
  • Hyssop
  • Helichrysum
  • Palo Santo
  • Roman Chamomile
  • Turmeric

Hormonal Balance:

  • Geranium
  • Jasmine
  • Marjoram
  • Neroli
  • Rosemary
  • Thyme
  • Vetiver

Libido:

  • Clary Sage
  • Fennel
  • Jasmine
  • Rose
  • Vetiver

Treats Herpes and Other Viruses:

  • Eucalyptus
  • Lemon
  • Melissa
  • Oregano
  • Peppermint
  • Rosemary
  • Tea Tree

I listed a bunch under each symptom because some scents you’re not going to like. This way you have options and can choose one or more that works for you.

 

I personally use and trust Young Living Essential Oils.

Here are my 20 absolute favorite “blends” (instead of buying five separate essential oils):

You can order any of these Young Living Essential Oils directly through my Virtual Office

Step 1: click on the purple link above (my Virtual Office)

Step 2: once you’re on the website, checkmark which one you want – “Member” or “Retail Customer” and then hit the purple button on the bottom right that says “Continue”

Step 3: hit “Continue” again on the little pop up that says “Introducing your Sponsor and Enroller Christina Roulund”

Step 4: order away!

Or call Young Living at 1-800-371-3515 and give them my Young Living ID 15281837 so that I can be your Sponsor/Enroller. They’ll handle everything and help you save money! I’m not techy, so this is what I do 🙂

If you have any further questions or concerns about these oils and could not find information online, feel free to contact me.

 

If you’re on Facebook join my Support Group, Breast Implant Illness Rejuvenation and Education With Christina 

Not on Facebook? Find me on Instagram at SizeHappy_WithChristina

 

Here’s to health, massive self-love and vibing high,

Christina Roulund-Dennis

This information is not intended to treat, cure, diagnose or prevent any diseases, nor should it replace the advice of your doctor or surgeon. Always research each oil first, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, on blood thinners, or have any medical conditions. The information on this website has not been evaluated by the Food And Drug Administration or any other medical body. Christina is not a doctor, so none of this should be taken as medical advice.

The Facts About BIA-ALCL And Breast Implants

As of today, there has been a lot of media attention regarding textured breast implants and a rare cancer of the immune system called, Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma, or ALCL for short

“Many studies have looked to estimate risk and, depending on the source data and country, the global lifetime risk of developing breast implant associated ALCL for patients with textured breast implants ranges anywhere from 1 in 3,817 to 1 in 30,000” the FDA (Fraud and Deception Agency) said.

New data from Australia indicates that as many as one in 1,000 with breast implants may develop ALCL.

Typical symptoms of BIA-ALCL include:

  • excessive fluid build up around the breast implant
  • itchiness on the breast
  • lesions on the breast that do not go away
  • swelling and redness of the breast that do not respond to or get better after antibiotics

BIA-ALCL, which was first identified in 1997, can initially appear in the skin, lymph nodes or in organs throughout the body.

Its said to take about three to 14 years after getting implants to start developing symptoms and signs of BIA-ALCL. This does not mean that you can’t or won’t experience BIA-ALCL until after the 10 year mark. 10 years is a ballpark answer and not a definitive, firm conclusion.

Breast implants are not life time devices. They should be replaced every eight to 12 years.

In the United States, textured breast implants make up about 13% of the market.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons and The Plastic Surgery Foundation are each making a list of breast implant patients who develop ALCL. “The research will also focus on identifying potential risk factors and criteria detection and management of disease“, the group says on a website devoted to the matter.

Although doctors have confirmed and linked ALCL to a specific type of implant, manufactures like Allergan and Mentor have no plans to stop making them.

The FDA has been investigating reports linking breast implants with the cancer, and currently has over 400 reports about patients who have developed ALCL after undergoing a breast augmentation with breast implants, *including 12 who died.

How Is BIA-ALCL Diagnosed And Treated?

If you think it’s as easy as a needle biopsy or getting a mammogram, think again.

Oftentimes the only way to test for and confirm a BIA-ALCL diagnosis is to have surgery, remove the implant and send the surrounding fluid and tissue off to the lab to screen for CD30, a specific marker that indicates lymphoma.

In the news story that aired on November 26th 2018 on NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt, Michelle Forney had a mammogram that showed nothing abnormal. She had the implants removed anyway. Come to find out, the scar capsule around her implant was full of tumors and fluid. Michelle was diagnosed with BIA-ALCL after experiencing painful swelling around her breast and constant fatigue for three years.

Patients with BIA-ALCL generally undergo surgery to remove the lymphoma, the implant(s) and some surrounding tissue.

In the unfortunate event that the lymphoma can not be removed with surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and/or brentuximab vedotin may be given.

After three years, 93% of BIA-ALCL patients are diseases-free when the condition is detected and treated early, according to ASAPS (American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery) data. 

Below you’ll find more in depth, eye opening articles and studies regarding BIA-ALCL

Watch NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt talk about breast implants and BIA-ALCL

View the article written by Lauren Dunn and Maggie Fox for NBC Nightly News, Doctors, patients raise alarms about cancer linked to breast implants

Download The ALCL Fact Sheet Here 

NCCN Consensus Guidelines For The Diagnosis And Management Of BIA-ALCL

*What’s Your Micromort? A Patient-Oriented Analysis Of BIA-ALCL

 

If you’re in the need of support and education regarding breast implants, Breast Implant Illness, explanting and ALCL, visit Breast Implant Illness Rejuvenation and Education With Christina

Not on Facebook? Find me on Instagram!

here’s to health and massive self love,

❤︎ Christina Roulund Dennis

 

Seeing Your New Breasts For The First Time After Explanting

No matter how confident and secure you are in your relationship or with your body, the thought of getting an explant and going back to a smaller breast size is scary.

Will I be completely flat?

What if I end up deformed or misshaped?

What if I have big scars that never go away?

I’d like to think that I’m a pretty secure woman who is confident and happy with her body, but we all have our moments.

Yes, even Beyonce and J Lo.

In this blog I want to share with you my perspective and give you some things to think about when it comes to your new breasts.

When I decided to explant I knew I’d be small because I have very little breast tissue and my skin is thin, both due to breast feeding my son for four months.

Honestly, I expected to be flat… and I was perfectly ok with that if it meant getting my health and life back.

My health, family, happiness and quality of life are what’s most important to me… not the size of my breasts.

Sometimes we have to make sacrifices and decisions that just don’t seem fair. And this was definitely one of those times.

I had to stop fronting, get really honest with myself and ask: Would you rather have these big breasts that are potentially making you ill and continue to live a mediocre life, or are you ok with having smaller breasts and living a freaking epic life? – you can’t have both.

Not in my case at least.

For me it was an easy decision!

I was willing to lose a physical (foreign) part of myself if it meant the emotional, mental and spiritual side of me would flourish and shine bright again.

And boy has it been!

I was glad to trade my breast implants and have some pretty scars for a brand new life full of unlimited happiness, health, success and adventures.

Ultimately I was done with the days of:

  • laying around, doing the bare minimum each day just to get by.
  • never wanting to do anything with my family because I didn’t have the energy or desire to.
  • watching everyone around me grow their businesses and succeed in life.
  • feeling like I was lazy, when I knew in my heart I am a very driven, ambitious woman.

No regrets. Not a single one.

Smaller breasts do not mean you’re any less of a woman, less worthy of love, less deserving or less attractive. I don’t give a flying flip what society or trolls on the internet try to tell you.

You’re beautiful just as you are. Your breasts do NOT define you.

And you wanna know something crazy? I am a more confident woman standing here before you today than I ever was with my breast implants.

I mean, I got breast implants because I wasn’t confident in the first place. You know?

Not only did I explant because I wanted to feel alive again, I explanted (without hesitation) because I now realize wholeheartedly that confidence does not have anything to do with a body part. Plus I’m a health coach and it felt so out of alignment to be teaching someone how to be healthy when I’m sitting here with two toxic foreign objects implanted inside of my body for the sake of vanity.

I was not being a good example of true health and loving your body as it is. That’s how I felt inside and I hated it. Alignment is everything to me

From my own personal transformation and in my own opinion, confidence stems from taking your power back, setting firm boundaries with everyone close to you, knowing and realizing your worth and falling madly in love with every inch of yourself despite what anyone else says or thinks about you.

What to expect after surgery and some of my best self-love advice

    1. When you first get out surgery you’re going to look down and things are going to look smushed and wrinkly. This is totally normal, don’t worry!

 

    1. How you look on day one is not how you’ll look on month one or  year one. Let your husband know…

 

    1. After your explant you’re going to feel so much better that your new breast size won’t matter at all (at least this is what I’m hoping happens).

 

    1. Be patient with your body. She just went through a serious surgery and is doing the best she can to heal and repair things, while still focusing on all your other bodily functions.

 

    1. I did a Live chat with my good friend Sarah Phillipe last month about self-love… here are our notes. This goes over a ton and are all the things I did to get me to where I am today on my self-love journey.

 

    1. From my own personal experience and after talking to a few women, your breasts after explant will jiggle more. Going over bumps and running are going to feel weird for a couple months. Just something I thought I should mention because it’s weird lol

 

    1. This entire process is an adjustment for your spouse too. At the end of the day he should be supportive and proud of you for taking control of your health. If your breasts are more important to him than your health, he’s not the one for you. I unapologetically feel this way. Being with a man who only cares about your looks is not healthy… I hope you understand this.

 

    1. Showing your husband your new breasts, especially if you had implants before you two met, is going to be uncomfortable at first. “What is he honestly thinking?” But just rock it! Own it. Show him the real you that is happy with her decision and not shaken by the looks of your new breasts (even if you are a little bit). I’m telling you, he’s going to find that quality about you so sexy.

 

    1. I’m the type of person who’s like “look at these and get used to them. I’m proud of myself and happy with my itty bittys… and you’re going to be too, darn it.”  😂 I’ve always made things funny or lighthearted in situations like this. What are you going to do anyways? You can’t change anything. Might as well embrace it.

 

    1. You have two choices – let it affect you and your relationship negatively or just have fun and laugh at it all. I choose to make the best of any situation, even if it’s not a good one to be in. I’m always joking about my small boobies. You’ll still find me looking down and saying “damn, that happened so fast! Where’d they go!?”

 

Knock your husbands socks off and show him that you’re a confident, powerful women and your breast size will not take that away from you or the relationship!

You’re a brave, beautiful woman and I’m so very proud of you!

❤︎ Christina Roulund-Dennis

If you’re on Facebook join my Group, Breast Implant Illness Rejuvenation and Education With Christina

Not on Facebook? Find me on Instagram!

Exercising After Explant

So you just explanted – congratulations!

I bet you can’t wait to get back to the gym, lift weights and start losing some weight. Am I right?

Or maybe you’ve been ill and fatigued for so long that exercising had to be put on the back burner altogether.

Either way, this article is going to help you ease back into exercising after explanting.

 

Some of the most common symptoms of Breast Implant Illness include:

  • extreme fatigue
  • poor recovery after exercise
  • inflammation
  • weight gain
  • depression
  • achy joints (especially the hip)
  • muscle weakness
  • dehydration

which make it a challenge to get an effective workout in.

You’re probably going to feel good after you explant, but you want to be sure to not do too much, too soon.

I follow a lot of women’s explant journey online, so I see this kind of thing happen all the time.

They end up feeling so good that they just want to get up and go, go, go. Only to be left feeling completely drained and wiped out by the end of the day.

Slow and steady wins… be patient with your body. You just had a major surgery and went under anesthesia.

For the first two weeks all I did was literally slow laps around my couch for 15 minutes, twice a day.

Be sure you get clearance from your surgeon before you exercise, and go over with him/her about what to expect with post-op recovery to be sure that you stay safe and heal properly.

The thing about exercising after explant is you don’t want to trip and hurt yourself, pop a stitch, pull your muscle or raise your blood pressure too high – which can be serious.

I wouldn’t recommend doing any kind of weight lifting or pulling until you get cleared to. And even then, you want to be sure you’re using very light weights and doing the movements slow and controlled.

I got cleared to start lifting weights at six weeks out.

Here’s what I did.

Because my surgeon made it very clear to not lift anything over head or pull anything down from overhead for a solid five weeks, I started with isolation exercises such as:

  • overhead press with a 5lb plate x20 reps (shoulders)
  • bicep curls with 5lb dumbbells
  • rope pulldowns (triceps)
  • side raises with 5lb dumbbells (shoulders)
  • upright rows with a 20lb curl bar (shoulders & upper back)
  • overhead tricep extension with a 5lb dumbbell

I made sure I went very light and slow, feeling to make sure nothing was pulling or feeling weird.

It took me about 10 – 11 weeks to feel 100% normal, to where it didn’t feel like my right breast muscle was moving and not attached (it’s hard to explain the feeling).

I’m three months out and am finally at a point where my motivation to exercise and get in shape is high because I have energy, strength and I feel fully healed.

Some basic tips to get you started are:

  1. Wait to get permission and clearance from your surgeon. That’s number one.
  2. When you do start walking and exercising again make sure you start off slow, even if you’re an intermediate and expert lifter like me. Lightheadedness and weakness can happen fast, so I’d personally be somewhere where there’s a lot of people around, just in case.
  3. Your body just went through a serious surgery and trauma. Be patient with it. Healing and repairing takes weeks so don’t push it just because you’re feeling good. Ease into it.
  4. When you start lifting weights, keep your reps in the 20-25 range. Nothing heavy or too strenuous for your body. Use it more to get the blood flowing and strengthen your muscles and joints again.
  5. If anything feels “wrong” or painful, stop immediately. You don’t want to take any chances with rips or tears, whether internal or external with your incision.
  6. Thirty minutes, three days a week is a good starting point. Feel how your body recovers and then each couple of weeks add in more frequency (days) and duration (time spent exercising).
  7. Rebounding is fun and also has amazing health benefits!

If you just explanted, are looking to get back into the swing of things and would like some professional guidance – I’m a personal trainer & health and fitness coach. I currently work with women who struggle with binge & emotional eating, but fitness and exercise are still a big part of what I do – professionally and personally.

… Mind… Body… Soul, baby.

I’d be more than happy to create you a custom-tailored four or eight week exercise program. Just let me know.

Do you have any questions?

Comment below or ask them in my Facebook Group, Breast Implant Illness Rejuvenation and Education With Christina

Not on Facebook? Find me on Instagram!

here’s to health, rejuvenation and massive self-love,

❤︎ Christina Roulund-Dennis

Health Benefits of Dry Brushing And how To

When was the last time you took 10 minutes for yourself?

 

Something that soothes me (plus it’s a cheap way to pamper your body with a numerous amount of health benefits) is called DRY BRUSHING.

Have you tried it?

🔅HOW TO:

So here’s the trick (it’s very important) — you must do long, gentle strokes towards your heart. Not short, hard strokes heading towards the tips of your body.

 

Your skin should be pink (not red) after a session.

 

Got it? Twice daily or before a shower for best results.

🔅Benefits of Dry Brushing:

 

1. Stimulates your lymphatic system helping it release toxins. Your lymphatic system is responsible for responsible for picking up bacteria, viruses, waste, toxins, cancer cells, etc. and killing them. To me the lymphatic system is just as important as your immune system.

 

2. A powerful detoxification tool without having to introduce liquids into the body (internal detox).

 

3. Helps remove dead, dry skin making your skin look younger and feel softer.

 

4. Boosts circulation helping to reduce the appearance of cellulite over time (if done consistently).

 

5. It’s invigorating and a great stress reliever (trust me).

 

It’s SO easy, right?!

 

Two things I would add to this would be rebounding & hydrotherapy.

 

Not on Facebook? Join me on Instagram! 

 

here’s to health, rejuvenation and massive self-love,
❤︎ Christina Roulund-Dennis

Notes About Self-Love With Sarah Phillipe

I had the privilege to chat with Sarah Phillipe from Reversing Breast Implant Illness and her Group of 1,1oo women today! 

Here’s a breakdown of what we discussed.

What is Size: Happy?

Size: Happy is a movement and this is the message

  1. We embrace, appreciate and love our body during every phase of our journey.
  2. Our worth and confidence isn’t determined by a number or size – it’s measured by all the things that make us happy and make us feel good.
  3. Happiness is something  that we are choosing to experience right now, no matter what our current breast size, jean size or body size is.
  4. We don’t wait until we achieve a certain size or have that tangible thing to live in happiness – we live with it here and now, while still working towards our goals and big dreams.
  5. We do not live by societies standards (or anybody’s opinions) of what’s in or considered to be pretty – we live by our own rules and make up our own minds as to what we feel is beautiful.

I’m a rebel naturally, so I don’t typically follow norms or conform to labels.

The way I see it, “whose to tell me what’s beautiful, in or trendy this season?” Not some magazine or celebrity gossip channel, that’s for sure.

Here’s the fact – you’re going to be “too much” or “not enough” for some people.

And oh-freaking-well. That’s their issue and not yours to carry around or believe.

 

What does self-love look like to you and what would you say to those who are struggling with it?

 

My definition of self love is doing anything that makes you feel pretty or makes you happy.

That could be anything from:

  • painting your own nails
  • taking a hot bubble bath
  • getting dressed up for no reason
  • getting a massage on your lunch break
  • saying no when you really want to say no
  • setting boundaries (this is super important)
  • eating in a way that serves you and your goals
  • playing with animals (one thing that makes me so happy every time)
  • watching a movie or reading a book instead of finishing your to-do list
  • eliminating, removing or decreasing all the things and people that don’t serve you

If you’re struggling with self-love, you might need to unravel a lot of old programming, limiting beliefs and negative self-talk that isn’t true, serving you or allowing you to grow and evolve.

We pick up a lot of things subconsciously throughout our life from the people closest to us, strangers and even tv and magazines.

Our past experiences, relationships and interactions shape up into who we are today.

One of the best things you can start with is to dig deep into understanding where these thoughts and feelings are stemmed from, and then identifying if they are in fact actually true (which 99% of the time they’re not).

As you go through this process, do not judge what comes up. Do not dwell on a thought or past experience for too long.

Allowing yourself to feel “negative emotions” is one of the fasted ways to heal.

You must feel to fully heal.

 

From your years of struggling with self-love and coaching hundreds of women, what are your best pieces of advice or things women can do to start living with more self-love and start fully embracing their new body?

 

  1. Ask yourself , What do I have control of? 

Your health, happiness, attitude and actions are four of the biggest ones.

Everything else that you don’t have control of, such as:

  • your breast size after surgery
  • what the pains going to be like
  • what happens to you on the surgery table once you’re under anesthesia

you need to release and let go of.

At the end of the day you’re going to have surgery and you’re going to have smaller breasts. That’s all you know for sure.

What’s in your control is the fact that you can pray that everything goes well, hand it over to whoever you believe in and have faith.

*trust me, I’m a control freak do this takes work

 

2. Change your thoughts and the words you use.

Thoughts are powerful. More powerful than you may know.

I talked about this in one of my other blogs,  but words like “can’t, scared, mad, ugly,”, etc. literally weaken the body, whereas things like “I’ll figure it out, I can do this, everything’s going to go smooth, I’m going to feel amazing” strengthen the body and carry a different vibrational frequency.

I know… it’s woo-woo, but it’s a fact.

On the topic of thoughts and words, social media needs to be brought up.

If you’re following an account and you notice that you’re always sitting there comparing your looks or body to anothers, which is leaving you feeling less then or not enough, I highly encourage you to unfollow that account.

You sitting there comparing isn’t allowing you to grow.

It’s keeping you stuck, destroying your mental health and brain washing you into believing that everyones lives are perfect and flawless – which is the furthest thing from the truth.

Next time you’re scrolling through social media, if what you’re seeing isn’t empowering, inspiring or motivating you, hit unfollow.

Your mental health and confidence will improve so fast within a month!

 

3. It’s about awareness and how quickly you bounce back!

We all have slips ups in our actions/habits and words/thoughts – and that’s ok.

For instance, I find myself comparing my body or breasts to anther woman at least once a week.

I now quickly catch myself, pull myself back into a loving state and remind myself that nobody else’s beauty diminishes mine.

This will take time, but as it continues to happen it’ll get easier and easier and you’ll catch yourself quicker and quicker.

It’s not about being perfect, it’s about realizing that when a thought, person or action/habit isn’t serving you and then quickly doing something about it.

Don’t let things simmer or fester. Just be patient with you body and self and know that you’ll always be a work-in-progress.

You never “arrive“. You will always be growing and evolving. That’s life.

 

4. Regarding your breasts and scars after surgery.

Yes, your breasts will look smaller and like a deflated balloon right after surgery.

Don’t stress.

Over the course of a year your breasts are going to change shape and fill out.

Once you see how good you feel, the size of our breasts aren’t even going to matter.

I’d much rather have my small A cup and feel amazing than to go back to a D cup and feel run down everyday.

For most of you, it’s only going to be you and your husband looking at your breasts and scars, I assume.

It’ll be an adjustment for the both of you, but it’s nothing you guys can’t handle.

Plus, I’m going to bet as soon as your husband starts to see how much better you’re feeling and how much more energy you have, he’s going to adore and appreciate you and your decision even more.

 

To watch the Live video, visit Sarah’s Facebook Group Reversing Breast Implant Illness With Sarah Phillipe.

Visit her website to learn more about her and how she can help you Reverse Breast Implant Illness.

 

Health Benefits of Rebounding And How To

Rebounding is a fun way to burn a few calories, get your child’s play in and stimulate your lymphatic system!

 

The Health Benefits of Rebounding:

  1. First off, Rebounding is fun!
  2. Why I do it … Boosts lymphatic drainage and immune function.
  3. Great for skeletal system and increasing bone mass.
  4. Helps improve digestion.
  5. More than twice as effective as running without the extra stress on the ankles and knees.
  6. Helps improve the effects of other exercise- one study found that those who rebounded for 30 seconds between weight lifting sets saw 25% more improvement after 12 weeks than those who did not.
  7. Increases endurance on a cellular level by stimulating mitochondrial production (these are responsible for cell energy).
  8. Helps improve balance by stimulating the vestibule in the middle ear.
  9. Rebounding helps circulate oxygen throughout the body to increase energy.
  10. Rebounding in a whole body exercise that improves muscle tone throughout the body.
  11. Some sources online claim that the motion of rebounding could help support the thyroid and adrenals.

 

How To Do It (there’s a technique):

It is best to start with feet on the rebounder and only gentle bounces, as opposed to high jumps. Short, soft landing jumps is the trick. 3-5 minutes a day, twice daily, is all you need to reap the benefits. Keep it in a place where you’re going to see it. Take turns with your kids.

The action of rebounding makes use of the increased G-force from gravity based exercises like this and each cell in the body has to respond to the acceleration and deceleration. The up and down motion is beneficial for the lymphatic system since it runs in a vertical direction in the body.

Another study showed that the increased G-force helped increase Lymphocyte activity. The lymph system transports immune cells throughout the body and supports immune function. For this reason, rebounding is often suggested as a detoxifying and immune boosting activity.

 

After my cancer scare in 2015, I began researching anything having to do with detoxing, cleansing and healing the body (it has to be done in this order to work).

I’m a firm believer that the body is capable of healing, if you believe it can and do the necessary actions.

If you enjoy my blogs – join my Facebook Group, Breast Implant Illness Rejuvenation and Education With Christina, for more information about all things breast implants, Breast Implant Illness, the explanting process and how to heal mind-body-soul after your surgery.

Not on Facebook? Find me on Instagram!

 

here’s to regained health, rejuvenation and massive self-love,

❤︎ Christina Roulund-Dennis

My 8 Week Post Explant Update

It’s been eight weeks since I removed my 12 year old 420cc silicone breast implants.

I get asked daily “how are you feeling? Any symptoms go away?

The answer is: “amazing and yes!”

If you haven’t yet heard my entire story with Breast Implant Illness, when my symptoms started, what symptoms I had and how my explant went, go here and read this first. 

Crazy, right?

Today I want to share with you what’s new, gone and still here.

 

Out of all the symptoms I had, only shortness of breath/gasping for air, minor hip joint pain and hair loss are still present.

With that being said, though, these three things are much less frequent and severe than before my explant. Plus, the gasping for air and hip joint pain were two of my newest symptoms, which started last year. So they might be the last to go anyways. Who knows.

For the first five weeks after my explant EVERYTHING was gone.

Not just better. Gone.

 

It seems like I just had a minor flare-up during week six and week seven because my achy stiff hip joint pain was back and I started gasping for air and losing a lot of hair again.

But now, at week eight, these three things are starting to subside again. So that’s good.

 

Honestly, I’m feeling like I’m in a brand new body.

I feel light, energetic, blissed out of my mind, funnier, wittier, smarter, more patient, sexier, more attractive, more confident, with it in my head and I’m actually remembering so much now. 

My body and mind feel like they are on high speed and high definition.

 

I wake up every morning feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day, motivated and excited to get up and get out of the house. All things I didn’t experience nine weeks ago, and for years.

For the first five weeks going over bumps in the car felt weird, but now that everything’s healed it doesn’t feel weird at all – it’s hard to explain.

 

My fake ones never really jiggled. These do and it feels so weird lol

My scars are slowly fading, but still pink.

 

All in all nothings really changed since my one month check-in.

I’m extremely happy with my experience, results and decision to explant.

 

I will continue to educate you about Breast Implant Illness, the explanting process, detoxification, healing and self-love here and in my Facebook Group, Breast Implant Illness Rejuvenation And Education With Christina

If you’re not on Facebook, you can find me on Instagram!

 

Are you planning on explanting?

Do you have a question for me?

Comment below.

 

here’s to newfound health, rejuvenation and massive self-love,

❤︎ Christina Dennis

Medical Tests To Order For Symptoms of Breast Implant Illness

Why is it that some women get ill from their breast implants, while others can have them 10+ years and only have one to two symptoms?

In my opinion, I think it has to do with a few things –

  • how healthy you were when you got breast implants
  • how well you took care of your body after afterwards
  • whether or not you’ve been exposed to things like the Epstein Barr Virus, mold, parasites, etc.

 

Having a weakened immune system will definitely have an effect on your overall health.

For me, personally, I was pretty healthy when I got my breast implants at the age of 23 and I took great care of my body afterwards. I didn’t start feeling any Symptoms of Breast Implant Illness until five years after I got them.

Over the years I’ve been working with a naturopathic doctor who is very knowledgable when it comes to autoimmune issues, viruses, parasites, the thyroid and adrenals. I originally went to him because my body was freaking the freak out.

Last December I was experiencing:

  • major anxiety/panic attacks
  • major depression
  • racing heart upon waking/elevated cortisol
  • extreme fatigue
  • light headedness upon standing
  • major brain fog
  • no motivation to do anything
  • lack of appetite
  • feeling that I’m dying

I was off my rocker. 

We did some blood and saliva tests to see what’s up and to get a baseline of what’s going on with my body. From there I was prescribed blends of natural herbs and supplements. Within five to six weeks I was feeling much better.

 

These are some labs that I had done to check on things like my thyroid, adrenals, blood cell count, inflammation markers and important vitamins.

 

1.When looking at your thyroid check your FREE T3, FREE T4, reverse T3, TSH, TPO ab, and TG ab markers. For those that have a hard time losing weight, they’re typically hypo-thyroid. For those that have a hard time putting on weight, they’re typically hyper-thyroid. Not in all cases, though. For instance, I’m working with a lady who is overweight and has hyper-throidism. Every body is different.

2. The thyroid controls your body temperature. If your gland produces too much thyroid hormone, your temperature rises – and vice versa. The Temperature Test is another good one to get checked if you’re experiencing hot flashes or cold extremities.

3. Iodine levels are good to check. Iodine deficiency has been linked to so many ailments, like low thyroid function and abnormal enlargement of the thyroid glands.

4. When looking into your adrenals, check your Cortisol, DHEA-S, Estadiol, Pregnenlone, Progesterone, Testosterone Free and Total, and your Sex Hormone Binding Globuline markers.

5. CRP-C and ESR monitor your inflammation markers. A body with high inflammation markers (chronic inflammation) is prone to experiencing fatigue, rashes, abdominal pain, chest pain and getting sick more. If you’re experiencing IBS, Chrohns Disease, gas, bloating, and food allergies, your gut could be inflamed.

6. If you’re experiencing auto-immune symptoms, check your ANA AntiNuclear Antibodies. Some autoimmune diseases include Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, Celiac Disease, Sjogrens Syndrome, Polymyalgia Rheumatica, Multiple Sclerosis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Type 1 Diabetes, Aloepecia Areata, Vasculitis and Temporal Arteritis. Quite a few women get diagnosed with one or more of these, or have these symptoms but a negative diagnosis, after getting breast implants.

7. If you catch every virus and bacterial infection that crosses your path, have your doctor make an order to check your NK CELLS. Immunodeficiency disorders prevent your body from fighting off infections and diseases. If you get sick a lot and it takes you awhile to recover, this could be why.

8. Mycoplasma (small typically parasitic bacteria) is another lab to look into if you feel like you have a cold you can’t knock. There are five different strands, so you’ll need to discover which one it is should you test positive.

9. If you’re always tired or have swollen lympnodes, it’s good to rule out things like Epstein Barre Virus, Lyme and Herpes. After I got my implants, my flare ups got more frequent because my immune system got compromised.

10. CBC and Lipids are good labs to check your white and red blood count for anemia and any infections. Last I checked, my total white blood count was low and my monocytes (another type of white blood cells) were extremely elevated.

11. Iron and Ferritine tests can check to see if any iron derangement’s are going on.

12. B12 and Folate levels are good to monitor, especially if your energy is low and you have the MTHFR gene.

13. If you experience depression or have low bone density, checking your Vitamin D level is a good idea. You need adequate vitamin D to absorb calcium and to regulate mood. Simply go out in the sun for 15 minutes a day in shorts and a tank top!

 

Other Tests To Consider:

 

This website has more information on labs and is where I researched and found some of the tests listed above, although most of them I had done already over the last couple years because of all the symptoms I was experiencing.

 

I take a few targeted supplements through my naturopathic doctor, Peter Kan. I also take some herbs and supplements that help my gut, immune system and my lymphatic system, kidneys and liver detox.

 

Next time you see your doctor, talk to him/her about ordering some of these to help you figure out what your body is doing, lacking or producing too much of.

 

Alright, I think this is a good start. I’m sure there are a few other medical labs that would be good to look into, but I do not want to overwhelm you. If you’re experiencing symptoms that aren’t mentioned above, speak to your doctor about looking into those as well.

 

Are you on Facebook? Join Breast Implant Illness Rejuvenation And Education With Christina 

Here’s where I educate women about Breast Implant Illness and help them heal pre and post explant.

Not on Facebook? Find me on Instagram!

 

here’s to newfound health, rejuvenation and massive self-love,

❤︎ Christina Dennis

 

Disclaimer: The information provided on or through this website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal or other professional advice. Always work with your health care professional and surgeon when discussing treatments and supplements. This information is not intended to replace the advice or attention of a physician or other qualified healthcare professional.